DETROIT—In the 22 years since the original Taurus debuted, Ford has managed nearly to kill what was once a highly admired model. Unlike that original groundbreaking car, the current Taurus is a competent but sadly mediocre and forgettable large sedan.

That's about to change. Unveiled today at the Detroit Auto Show, the 2010 Ford Taurus will once again be the "Flagship for the Ford division," claimed Ford VP Scott Tobin.

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Ford's goal is to move the Taurus upmarket from the Fusion to the territory of larger, premium sedans like the Toyota Avalon and the Nissan Maxima. While the underpinnings are similar to the current car's—and shared with the Lincoln MKS—the new sheetmetal draws cues from the Ford Interceptor Concept, as well as quite a few European Fords, and makes for a far more distinctive design. The body has a real heft to it, with attractive details like a pronounced body-side crease line, flush-mounted rear taillights and an aggressive three-bar front grille.

Inside, the interior has been substantially upgraded, with heated and cooled seats, adaptive cruise control, a heads-up display and an optional front-seat massage function. Ford's Sync connectivity system is of course included. Airbags all around and a collision mitigation system that readies the brakes predict five-star safety ratings.

Ford's 3.5-liter V6, coupled to a six-speed automatic, returns for duty. While final horsepower figures have not been released, expect a maximum of about 260, a decent amount but not enough to move the 2-ton sedan with real authority. Too bad Ford didn't include the MKS's 3.7-liter unit, but perhaps the upcoming EcoBoost Turbocharged V6 will be added in the future. At least fuel economy should remain decent, 18/28 for the front-drive model and 17/24 for the all-wheel-drive version.

What got our attention most, however, was Ford's dedication to the driving experience. Company officials promise top-notch steering feel and handling to return the Taurus to its status as a worthy driver's car. We'll have to wait until we drive it of course, but by looks alone the Taurus has made substantial progress. —Larry Webster